Klaus Schubert: A life's work for the Jürgen Wahn Foundation is coming to an end

Klaus Schubert: A life's work for the Jürgen Wahn Foundation is coming to an end

After 26 years at the helm of the Jürgen Wahn Foundation (JWS), Klaus Schubert will no longer stand for re-election. This decision was announced during the most recent general meeting of the foundation, which has been supporting needy people in many countries around the world for over 30 years. Under Schubert's leadership, the JWS was able to set up numerous projects that help directly from person to person and are designed in an appealing way. So reported Soester Anzeiger that the foundation was founded in 1980 to commemorate the Soest student Jürgen Wahn, who tragically died in a car accident.

Schubert has headed the foundation since 1999 and succeeded Werner Hufnagel. Under his leadership, the JWS became active in many regions, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and Central and South America. Projects in countries such as Nepal, Mexico and Guatemala are just a few examples of the foundation's commitment. Schubert's experience in Buenos Aires, where he was able to experience direct help for a daycare center, and his encounters in Guatemala City, which motivated him to initiate help for self-help, were particularly impressive. The chairman emphasizes: “Help for self-help” is the basic principle of the work of the JWS.

Current projects and challenges

The international importance of the JWS was also highlighted at the meeting. César Cid, a Mexican engineer and former student in Soest, shared his perspective on the foundation's work and emphasized the importance of support, especially for poor children and young people. The JWS not only finances school materials, but also participates in the construction of school buildings and promotes vocational training, which is essential today to make it easier for young people to enter professional life. Evkirche So-AR reports that the foundation has also launched a training program for young women in Uganda. Children in Ukraine are also being supported with urgently needed school materials.

In Togo this year, JWS was able to help six young people become self-employed. However, rising costs of living and higher minimum wages inevitably pose challenges. The CFO of JWS, Reinhard Neundorf, reported on secured jobs, but also on falling income and increasing expenses, which represents an acute challenge for the organization.

An impressive legacy

Klaus Schubert was awarded the Citizens' Prize of the city of Soest in 2016 for his outstanding achievements. In March 2015, the foundation even received the UN Dove of Peace. These awards underline the important role that the JWS plays at the international level. Schubert emphasizes that the foundation's success depends not only on him, but also on the committed donors and the motivated team. Regular feedback from the projects shows that the help is actually arriving and changing people's lives.

Over the last few decades, the Jürgen Wahn Foundation has established itself as a reliable organization committed to improving living conditions in disadvantaged regions. These development cooperation foundations, like them Spheriq describe, promote cooperation between industrialized countries and the global south, share resources and knowledge and advocate for sustainable development. With Schubert's resignation, the foundation is facing a new era, but the course for a successful future has already been set.